EAST BOSTON — Suffolk Downs hosted the final of four scheduled live racing and food truck festival weekends of the year and concluded the 2017 season on Sunday with a 9-race card.
The day started with the $50,000 Thomas F. Moran Stakes, a7½- furlong turf contest restricted to horses bred in Massachusetts. Silent Waters, a four-year-old son of Silent Name (JPN) bred by Nine Maple Farm, Inc, made every call a winning one and drew off to win by seven lengths under jockey Rosario Montanez for trainer Carlos Martin.
Silent Waters returned $3.20, 2.20 and 2.00. Danly’s Dream, the defending winner of the Thomas F. Moran Stakes, paid $3.40 and 2.20. There was no show wagering.
In the eighth and featured race, the Linda Rice-trainee Nite Delite notched the seventh victory of her career with a 1–length victory. The 5-year-old daughter of War Chant stalked the pace under jockey Mike Luzzi before launching a bid and battling with a resolute Maggiesfreuddnslip in the stretch. She stopped the clock in one minute over a yielding turf course.
Nite Delite paid $3.40, 2.40 and 2.00. Maggiesfreuddnslip returned $6.20 and 3.20 while Elandess paid $3.00.
Godolphin Racing’s familiar royal blue silks were in the winner’s circle on Saturday after the homebred filly Larkin splashed home over a sloppy track to win the featured allowance/optional claiming race by one-length.
Sent off as the favorite, the 3-year-old daughter of Bernardini settled comfortably into last in the field of five and was content to track the field under jockey Luis Quinones. She launched her rally as they turned for home and battled gamely with Valerie Victoria before putting away that rival and drawing off to earn her second career victory. She has now won two of her four starts for trainer Michael Stidham.
Larkin returned $4.40, 2.60 and 2.20. Valerie Victoria paid $2.80 and 2.10 while Tanya’s Gem returned $2.20.
It was the second win of the day for Quinones who also piloted Bailey’s Island ($5.40) to win the fifth race for trainer Jay Bernardini.
In addition to live racing, there were food trucks, craft beer and family fun activities.
Suffolk Downs remains open for simulcasting year-round.
